Driscoll Lab

📢📢Rally for Dr. Tom Alter and #FreeSpeech TODAY 11am! Details below! 👇

Still a few more days left to apply for this PhD position at @pcc-wur.bsky.social

Join our panel discussion "Applying for PhD positions in soft matter physics" on October 9th at 12 pm ET! Learn about how to find a program/advisor, get good recommendation letters, and craft a compelling application for graduate school. apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

DSOFT invites students and recent graduates to participate in our Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6th (10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET). The conference aims to discuss the latest advancements in soft matter physics by students. If you wish to present your work, please find details in the post below!

Amazing!

As part of his magnificent M.Sc thesis at
@pcc-wur.bsky.social , Christoph shows how to harness viscoelasticity to control spontaneous self-emulsification of multicomponent droplets. More in the open access article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Just like Northwestern

Great opportunity to work on cool science in Germany!

"The freedom to speak becomes meaningless when disconnected from the possibility of being heard." A powerful statement from @alondra.bsky.social on her decision to resign from the National Science Board & the LoC Scholars Council -- read the whole thing time.com/7285045/resi...

Last few spots for this exciting summer school are still open!

US researchers must stand up to protect freedoms, not just funding Curtailment of freedoms and disregard for the rule of law in the United States is destroying the ability of science to serve the nation’s, and the world’s, interests. Researchers can take action.

New op-ed in @nature.com: The Trump administration's assault on freedoms and the rule of law is an existential threat to US science. We urge scientists to speak out in defense of freedoms, not just funding. With Andrea Liu @upenn.edu and Sidney Nagel of UChicago! www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Best quote ever from my favorite physicist (and my PhD advisor): “What kind of physicist are you? Weird.”

Gearing up for our upcoming exhibition in the European Cultural Centre’s architecture biennale, Time Space Existence 2025!

Kirigami d’Aria explores how structures based on kirigami (“cut paper”) can be used in architectural settings, adaptively tailoring airflow and shading in public spaces.

Bioinspired Phase Separation 8:00 am – 10:48 am, Friday March 21, Session MAR-W64, Anaheim Hilton, Palo Verdes (Level 4)

APSMarch attendees: eat to bed early so you can get to the 8am session on Friday: Bioinspired phase separation, wi the Lorenzo Di Michele and many other great speakers.

8am sharp in the Hilton 4th floor Palos Verdes room

summit.aps.org/events/MAR-W64

Check out Shih-Yuan's talk tomorrow afternoon about the strange elastic properties of liquid marbles AKA why it is fun to squish liquid marbles. MAR-S61@14:06pm in Anaheim Hilton, Pacific D

Start you morning off right - come see Shih-Yuan's awesome invited talk! "From Wobble-and-Slide to Rock-and-Roll... and Jump!" MAR-L03, 9:12 in the *Convention Center* Room 203A

Elaborate?

APS March meeting coming up: the fun starts Sun 3/16 with Squishy Science Sunday!

Today is the day!! Absolutely in awe about what a bunch of grad students were able to pull off when they looked around and realized no one else was standing up.

I know where I will be tomorrow afternoon - Chicago science friends, I hope to see you all there!!!

I am WAY behind on celebrating this win - I blame it equally on double teaching and the world falling apart. Driscoll lab member Haley Shamah won the top prize for Best Poster at CU*iP recently! I am so proud!!

Re-posts appreciated!

We have an open PhD position w/ Prof Harold Auradou on #microswimmers/#protists in complex media! Students get to spend at least 12 months in Paris, and will receive their PhD from both Exeter and Paris-Saclay!

Apply by 31st Mar.
More details:
adum.fr/as/ed/voirpr...

PhD position in 'Biophysical mechanics of immune cell functioning

Are you enthusiastic about interdisciplinary research at the interface of physics and biology, and using state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical tools to unravel the biophysical mechanisms of immune cell functioning? Then we might have an open PhD position for you!

www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...

‘Stand Up for Science’ Rallies Will Protest Trump Attacks on Research Amid President Donald Trump’s attacks on government scientists and science funding, researchers are arranging rallies to “Stand Up for Science” in Washington, D.C., and nationwide on March 7

Read this interview with the students behind @standupforscience.bsky.social.

1) These kids are the best and science is lucky to have them

And

2) Why are the leaders of our universities remaining silent while our PhD students fight on behalf of us all???

www.scientificamerican.com/article/stan...

I am so grateful to the leadership of early career folks on this - I call on all of us to stand with them.

Chicago, IL Location: Federal Plaza 211 S Clark St, Chicago, IL, United States Address: 211 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60604 Time: 12-3 PM

Hey #Chicago!
It's time to take a stand for #science. We are rallying on March 7 at noon at the Federal Plaza. Start making your signs!

Info
standupforscience2025.org/chicago-il/

RSVP (optional)
www.eventbrite.com/e/stand-up-f...

#standupforscience #scienceforall
@standupforscience.bsky.social

Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling Using an arcane law, officials have effectively delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health, leaving medical studies in jeopardy.

Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/s...

5 Calls Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.

Ok scientists & those who love science 🧪: here is another exhortation. Call Congress TODAY about the freeze on NIH Council Meetings and Study Sections. Emphasize that this means NO new grants are being funded & labs will soon start to shut down and fire employees. Phone numbers are at:
5calls.org

This is excellent!

Graph showing that prior to 1963 when the measles vaccine was introduced, there were around 300,000-700,000 measles cases per year. Within a few years of the vaccine, the number of cases fell below 20,000/year. There were a blips where cases rose, but shortly after the second vaccine dose was recommended in 1989, annual cases have generally been well below 1,000 cases. In 2000, measles elimination was declared in the US. Now we have sporadic outbreaks that typically spread among unvaccinated people. Chart is from Center for American Progress and is based on CDC data on measles cases.

Vaccines work! As measles cases have recently been reported in Alaska, Georgia, New York, Rhode Island and Texas, it's important to remember that prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, measles killed 400-500 people and resulted in ~48,000 hospitalizations per year.